HURON — Recipients of the 2013 ‘Insuring a Brighter Tomorrow’ scholarships from the South Dakota Farmers Union Foundation were honored Saturday as part of Farmers Union Day at the South Dakota State Fair.

A total of 26 students who graduated in 2013 received $1,000 scholarships. Nine of the students attended the ceremony held on the Freedom Stage at the State Fairgrounds.

“We’re honored to be able to help these young people achieve their dreams and pursue their post-secondary education,” said Wayne Bartscher, regional manager of Farmers Union Insurance Agency and vice president of the South Dakota Farmers Union Foundation. “All of these young people are enrolled this fall in a South Dakota college, university or technical school, and it’s a pleasure for us to be able to invest in their education and in the future of our state.”

For the sixth straight year, the South Dakota Farmers Union Foundation, in cooperation with Farmers Union Insurance Agency, awarded the funds through the “Insuring a Brighter Tomorrow” scholarship program. Over the past six years, the Foundation has awarded more than $150,000 in scholarships to students attending South Dakota post-secondary schools.

The recipients were chosen from among a large pool of applicants. They were scored based on a combination of academic record, activities and awards, financial need, and an essay relating to how they will “Insure a Brighter Tomorrow” in South Dakota. Farmers Union Insurance agents throughout the state fund the scholarship program administered by the Farmers Union Foundation.